A controversial history

But most Senate Democrats and a handful of Republicans were against giving Bolton the job.

They complained he gave the Senate false information when he failed to note on a confirmation questionnaire that a State Department inspector had formally questioned him.

The investigation, part of a joint inquiry by the State Department and CIA, centered around intelligence about whether Iraq attempted to obtain uranium from Niger.

The State Department acknowledged the error in Bolton's statement.

Also, Sen. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, took to the floor and read a list of complaints from Bolton's subordinates. They said Bolton had a reputation of bullying his colleagues, taking facts out of context and exaggerating intelligence.

Carl Ford, the former chief of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, called Bolton "a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy" and a "serial abuser" of subordinates.

Because GOP leaders could not push through the nomination, when Congress was in recess in August 2005, Bush used his constitutional power to make recess appointments and put Bolton in the post temporarily, without Senate approval.

A recess appointment only lasts until the end of the term of Congress in which it is made, so Bolton's appointment was to end in January unless the Senate acted to confirm him.

Bush continued to fight for Bolton's nomination, resubmitting it to the Senate just two days after Democrats won control in last month's midterm elections.

The president had hoped that GOP leaders might be able to get it through before the Senate changed hands.